This is going to make OWS look bad

[IndyPragmatist]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67252.html

‘Occupy Wall Street’ seeks to trademark the brand

By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 10/31/11 2:19 PM EDT

Occupy Wall Street is looking to make its mark — on everything from tote bags to t-shirts.

The Occupy Wall Street movement applied for the trademark to its name on Oct. 24, filing for the use of the mark on its website, in periodicals and newsletters, and on clothing and bags.

But the movement isn’t the only entity hoping to lay claim to the name —Fer-Eng Investments, LLC, of Arizona also applied to trademark Occupy Wall Street on Oct. 24. Fer-Eng Investments wrote in its filing it is intending to use the name on bags, footwear, hats and various other clothing items.

According to attorney Samuel Cohen of the Law Offices of Wylie M. Stecklow, a firm that is part of the Occupy Wall Street legal working group, the movement’s trademark application process will likely take months.

“Trademark filings take a while,” Cohen told POLITICO. “It generally, from when we submit something, and we submitted last week, it takes three to five months for the United States Patent and Trademark Office to get back to us.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67252.html#ixzz1cOCG4Aod

[daggahead]

1. This can be viewed as a way for the movement to pay for ...

... permits, food, first aid, etc.

It can also be seen as a defensive move to try to undermine the Long Island couple that was going to try to personally profit from a movement they are not involved in.

[TBMASE]

10. Sooooo, when a group that's protesting the evils of capitalism engages in capitalism

isn't that a little hypocritical?

If they want to trademark their name to protect it from being used by people that's one thing but if they're going to sell things to raise money, that's capitalist

[CreekDog]

12. They're protesting the excesses of capitalism

but you have got your meme out that they're somehow professed communists.

:eyes:

[vets74]

53. OWS has to COPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK its name and slogans in order to control their uses.

That is why we have intellectual property rights.

Otherwise any crook could go for a free ride.

Or use the logo items to damage the brand.

[Kingofalldems]

13. Your post makes no sense

They never have claimed to be Socialist or even anti-capitalist. The Socialist meme comes from the RW. Oops.

[coalition_unwilling]

40. True. In fact, the latest opinion polling done, I believe, by Fordham U., shows

that only 4% self-identify as socialist or communist.

N.B. I am a Democratic Socialist willing to make common cause to advance the interests of the working class.

[Jumping John]

15. So wouldn't this be a way to show the lying media that they are not trying to ruin Capitalism?

And there is nothing hypocritical about OWS being capitalist, unless they use the corrupt political system solely to line their pockets.

All armies require capital to survive after all.

[arcane1]

Well, since the movement is most definitely not anti-capitalist, what's the problem

But you already knew that, right?

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I highly suggest you go down to one of these

SHUT UP, LISTEN...

Yes there are a few who are socialists, even COMMIES... but not the majority.

By the way I am a capitalist... I am all for breaking the monopolies, so was Adam Smith.

I am one, and I am all for REGULATING the market, so was Adam Smith.

I am one, and I am all for living wages, so was Smith.

Truth me, capitalism ain't what you think it is.

[unapatriciated]

36. if they own it they can't be prevented from using it

[JuniperLea]

37. Your concern is duley noted... eom

[coalition_unwilling]

41. If they're going to sell things to raise money, that's not necessarily

capitalism. IOW, merchants sold goods and services during feudalism and no serious historian would claim that those merchants making sales were somehow capitalist.

Wish I could obliterate your post from this thread for its utter ignorance and not-so-subtle red baiting. Instead, I'm just putting you on Ignore.

[Kingofalldems]

42. Looks like a hit and run over here

Post something false and then run.

[ZombieHorde]

54. OWS is not anti capitalism, so it is not hypocritical. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Why does this make them look bad?

It makes sense to control it as a trademark - otherwise I think that anyone could use it. The Tea Party could start calling their nut-fests "Occupy Wall Street". It could be used for other nefarious purposes too.

[IndyPragmatist]

7. Because most people only read headlines

I've talked to a lot of people about OWS, and most people don't know a thing about it.

That includes many people who support it. They don't know what it stands for, but they decided (based off of headlines and extremely basic understanding) that they support it.

Similarly, many people oppose it with little information about it (this is more common).

People will look at this and say "wait, I thought they didn't like capitalism? Those hypocrits."

It's sad, but most likely true.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Lemme see who else could use this in a bad way?

And was chomping at bit to do that?

[Brickbat]

4. Only if it's printed on made-in-China crap.

It's not hard to find union-printed made-in-USA t-shirts. Here's to hoping the ones who are doing this put forth a little effort.

[USA_1]

5. Non Profit Organizations Typically Trademark

... their names and brands they sell. It is legal and just makes sense.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Aha! #Occupy brings to light the dirty tricks regarding ownership and use!

It is #Occupy's. One way we can support them is to wear the message. On items which will financially aid the movement, not strangers!

[arcane1]

8. I disagree

Besides, it makes sense even if only to prevent some other group from trademarking the name, and giving the actual OWS movement legal grief over use of "their" trademark.

[gratuitous]

9. News flash: The Occupy movement lives in the society it lives in

Yeah, it seems tautological, but there has been a consistent, though small, commentary going on, as if to paint the Occupiers as hypocritical: Look, they're texting each other on smart phones! Is that one of those Occupy hippies drinking a cup of Starbucks? I saw one of "them" lacing up a pair of Nikes.

A pre-emptive maneuver to head off one of the shenanigans tiresomely and tirelessly executed by Reactionary Ratfuckers doesn't make a movement look bad, except to the RR whose little scheme didn't work.

[IndyPragmatist]

11. That was my point. People have created stereotypes about it

Most people don't have much of an understanding (supporters and opposition). There will be plenty of people who think they are hypocritical because of this.

[ret5hd]

17. why don' we ask you what to do...

1) the actual OWS movement trademark it

or

2) let the company that wants to put it on bags, t-shirts, etc at no benefit to OWS trademark it

I'll wait patiently for your decision.

[IndyPragmatist]

22. I posted a story

I did not claim to have a solution or anything along those lines.


I assume you have a complete and infallible solution for everything you every talk about? Please then, provide them now.

I'll wait patiently for your decision.

[ret5hd]

25. You posted a smear.

fess up.

[IndyPragmatist]

27. You think information is bad

fess up.

Seriously...it's an article. Are you intelligent enough to read it and form an opinion based on what you already know and what is presented in the article? If not, I am sorry. Maybe you should be spoon fed everything so you know what to think. Independent thought is frowned upon, I see.

[ret5hd]

29. Misinformation is bad.

[MadrasT]

35. If you are so big on "independent thought"...

...then why did you try to frame opinion on the piece by labeling it with the title: "This is going to make OWS look bad"?

[me b zola]

52. No, your rw spin on the information is what we are objecting to

:hurts:

[Jumping John]

20. So are you condoning the catering to the mis and uninformed because they choose not to be informed?

[RegieRocker]

14. Dumb move

[flamingdem]

16. FALSE INFORMATION ALERT trademark was applied for by Occupier/t-shirt seller

and he claims he'll sell it to OWS for $1.00

This was on MSNBC this morning.

Nice smear job going on there with Politico

[rug]

19. This is the trademark application.

http://tdr.uspto.gov/jsp/DocumentViewPage.jsp?85454550/APP20111027072932/Application/6/24-Oct-2011/sn/false#p=1

[tama]

47. Thanks

From the application: "To the extent that it is possible, this application is intended to vest trademark rights in "Occupy Wall Street" in the unincorporated association "Occupy Wall Street" as a whole, not in the individual applicants as joint applicants per se. Any uses of the "Occupy Wall Street" mark herein claimed are and will be authorized by the majority vote of the General Assembly of Occupy Wall Street or a duly designated agent or agents thereof."

I believe this move is reaction to some individuals trying to make OWS their own private trademark for purely commercial purposes. But I believe this could have been done also according to copyleft principles and should have.

[Kingofalldems]

18. Didn't they always look bad to you?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. Ding ding ding!

You noticed, too? ;)

[dtexdem]

23. Bullshit. If it doesn't, someone else will.

Some conservatives have already tried.

[spanone]

24. no reason on earth that would make ows look bad.....

politico....bwahahahahahahaaa

[Tsiyu]

31. rofl

"this could make OWS look bad.....oooooooooooh"

Every protester could sprout wings overnite and start healing the sick and making the blind see and turning protest signs into pure gold, and someone would say, "This is making OWS look bad.......oooooooooooooooooooooooooh" :crazy:

[RandiFan1290]

28. Oh my!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. I guess these guys weren't "real" socialists either.

Probably driving around in chauffeured limos and sipping lattes from all the $.40 they duped the workers out of.

[xchrom]

32. That is some funny Bull Shit you're pedaling.

Pedal faster.

[H2O Man]

33. not

[Iggo]

34. Only to certain people.

And I'm certain those people ain't with us anyway.

Know'm say'n?

[seabeyond]

38. this? this is what is going to make OWS look bad? lol, i was expecting.... something. BUT

this?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[kestrel91316]

39. BS alert!!! BS alert!!!! BS alert!!!! OWS is not applying for this trademark.

Some dude selling tshirts for profit is.

You get a big FAIL, my friend.

This was already discussed sd infinitum on DU days ago when it hit the news. Enjoy your stay.

[Uncle Joe]

44. I agree, it's just trademark carpetbaggers n/t

[flamingdem]

46. Note that the OP chose not to update the false info

hmmmmmmmmmmm

The trademark dude was on MSNBC this morning so - slime quick

[Uncle Joe]

43. Other than anger and fear that's another thing Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party have in common.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=769&q=tea+party+trademark&btnG=Google+Search&oq=tea+party+trademark&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=0l0l0l4109l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0

Thanks for the thread, IndyPragmatist.

[coalition_unwilling]

45. K&R for the discussion. Thanks for posting - n/t

[jwirr]

48. Don't you apply for a trademark to keep just anyone from using it?

If they own it others cannot use it to make money off of them.

[Raksha]

49. Unrec - typical concern troll post, slightly more blatant than usual. n/t

[NorthCarolina]

50. Unrec. This is completely false. It was a T-Shirt vendor that applied for a Trademark,

period.

[lunatica]

51. self delete